Hey, I’m Mike.

I help Architects build thriving careers without burning out.

A man with short, light brown hair and a beard sitting outdoors, resting his chin on his hand while smiling at the camera. He wears a black polo shirt and a wristwatch, with green trees in the background.

My name is Mike LaValley.

I’m a licensed Architect by trade, living and working in Buffalo, NY.

Since October 2015, I've been writing and creating things online. I got my start producing content exclusively for young Architects under the name Evolving Architect.

But like many ambitious Architects often do though…

I burned out.

I put the work before everything—my relationships, my hobbies, my health.

That experience motivated me to make permanent changes to pursue a more resilient and sustainable life.

Ever since, I’ve been slowly rebuilding that life into something I can be proud of. Now—a stack of Simon Sinek-esque self-help books and 75 lbs of lost weight later—I share what I’ve learned along the way.

The journey is never done.
And it’s not always easy.

Because of what I went through and overcame, I now help ambitious Architects like you build resilience to prevent and overcome burnout too.

Tips, strategies, and frameworks that help you manage the stress of being a creative professional with everything else going on in your life.

My mission is to empower Architects to build resilient lives so they can thrive sustainably without burnout.

More than just a another Wellness Coach

I'm not a generic wellness coach who's never faced a design deadline. I'm a licensed Architect with 17+ years in the profession—I've been the one working 70-hour weeks, questioning whether this career was sustainable, and leading teams through impossible project demands.

What makes my approach different:

  • Architecture-specific strategies that work within project realities, not against them

  • Licensed professional credibility - I understand client pressures, deadline culture, and design review stress

  • Implementation-focused - Beyond awareness to actual behavior change

  • Proven track record - From local and state AIA chapters to universities and national conferences like Construct

I've navigated my own burnout recovery while building a sustainable, thriving Architecture career.

Now I help other Architects and firms do the same.

Here’s how ↓

Three more ways I can help YOU

  • A MacBook Air laptop, a white mug filled with black coffee, a black notebook, and a white pen placed on a wooden table.

    The Resilient Architect Newsletter

    Join 750+ architects getting weekly strategies for preventing burnout, navigating your career, and building work-life harmony—all specific to the unique pressures of our profession.

    Get Free weekly strategies
  • A conference room filled with attendees seated at round tables, listening to a speaker at a podium. The room has ornate, high ceilings with decorative artwork and a large chandelier. A presentation slide is projected on a screen to the left of the speaker.

    Speaking & Workshops

    I deliver interactive workshops that transform how your team thinks about burnout—combining architecture-specific strategies with practical tools they can implement immediately.

    Explore Speaking Services
  • A man with glasses and a beard sitting in front of a bookshelf filled with books and Funko Pop figures, in a room with black soundproofing foam on the wall.

    1-on-1 Coaching

    Private coaching for Architects navigating career transitions, burnout recovery, or leadership development. Single sessions or 3-session packages available.

    Learn About Coaching